Jagdeo, Rohee should be questioned over Lindo Creek massacre – Justice Trotman

Further questioning of public officials and compensation for family members are among the recommendations in the Commission of Inquiry (COI) Report into the murder of eight miners at Lindo Creek in 2008.

The Report was handed over to President David Granger Thursday morning at State House, following approximately six months of public hearings and other forms of investigative work by Justice (r’td) Donald Trotman, the sole Commissioner.

It was recommended that former President Bharrat Jagdeo, former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and other officials should be questioned about their “conduct” during the period when the miners were killed, Trotman told media operatives.

“[They need] to be inquired into so that some explanations be given by them as to their conduct and actions or non-actions during the time 2008 and following,” he expressed.

Jagdeo and Rohee as well as former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds were invited to be interviewed by the Commission but they refused to do so on several grounds including their belief that the activity has a political motive.

The Report has also recommended that there be a reopening of some aspects of the initial investigation into the murder of the eight men so that “proper measures” will be taken, Justice Trotman said.

Further, the COI has recommended that the families of the deceased be compensated in various ways. Justice Trotman explained that “many of the family have suffered financially from the deaths of their husbands or fathers who wear at the time supporting them … and now that they [miners] have gone there is no support, economic or financial.”

News Room understands that among the recommendation for compensation is that the families receive house lots, jobs and money from the State on a yearly basis.

President David Granger, in brief remarks, declared that “my government is determined to ensure that the truth” about the period of “the troubles” be uncovered.

President Granger said he will “spare no effort to expose the intellectual authors” of the deadly violence that plagued the country in the early 2000s.

With the Lindo Creek COI concluded, President Granger is mulling the next incident to investigate. He told reporters that a blood relative of former minister Sateydeow Sawh has requested a COI into the man’s death. Sawh was killed on April 22^nd, 2006 along with his brother Rajpat and sister Pulmattie Persaud and security guard Curtis Robertson.

President Granger noted that high on his agenda is a COI into the deadly pirate attacks of Guyanese fishermen off the coast of Suriname just a few months ago.